| Holman Christian Standard Bible | Christian Standard Bible |
| 1About that time King Herod cruelly attacked some who belonged to the church, | 1About that time King Herod violently attacked some who belonged to the church, |
| 2and he killed James, John's brother, with the sword. | 2and he executed James, John's brother, with the sword. |
| 3When he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter too, during the days of Unleavened Bread. | 3When he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter too, during the Festival of Unleavened Bread. |
| 4After the arrest, he put him in prison and assigned four squads of four soldiers each to guard him, intending to bring him out to the people after the Passover. | 4After the arrest, he put him in prison and assigned four squads of four soldiers each to guard him, intending to bring him out to the people after the Passover. |
| 5So Peter was kept in prison, but prayer was being made earnestly to God for him by the church. | 5So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was praying fervently to God for him. |
| 6On the night before Herod was to bring him out for execution, Peter, bound with two chains, was sleeping between two soldiers, while the sentries in front of the door guarded the prison. | 6When Herod was about to bring him out for trial, that very night Peter, bound with two chains, was sleeping between two soldiers, while the sentries in front of the door guarded the prison. |
| 7Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared, and a light shone in the cell. Striking Peter on the side, he woke him up and said, "Quick, get up!" Then the chains fell off his wrists." | 7Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared, and a light shone in the cell. Striking Peter on the side, he woke him up and said, "Quick, get up!" And the chains fell off his wrists. |
| 8Get dressed," the angel told him, "and put on your sandals." And he did so. "Wrap your cloak around you," he told him, "and follow me." | 8"Get dressed," the angel told him, "and put on your sandals." And he did. "Wrap your cloak around you," he told him, "and follow me." |
| 9So he went out and followed, and he did not know that what took place through the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision. | 9So he went out and followed, and he did not know that what the angel did was really happening, but he thought he was seeing a vision. |
| 10After they passed the first and second guard posts, they came to the iron gate that leads into the city, which opened to them by itself. They went outside and passed one street, and immediately the angel left him. | 10After they passed the first and second guards, they came to the iron gate that leads into the city, which opened to them by itself. They went outside and passed one street, and suddenly the angel left him. |
| 11Then Peter came to himself and said, "Now I know for certain that the Lord has sent His angel and rescued me from Herod's grasp and from all that the Jewish people expected." | 11When Peter came to himself, he said, "Now I know for certain that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from Herod's grasp and from all that the Jewish people expected." |
| 12When he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John Mark, where many had assembled and were praying. | 12As soon as he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John Mark, where many had assembled and were praying. |
| 13He knocked at the door in the gateway, and a servant named Rhoda came to answer. | 13He knocked at the door of the outer gate, and a servant named Rhoda came to answer. |
| 14She recognized Peter's voice, and because of her joy, she did not open the gate but ran in and announced that Peter was standing at the gateway." | 14She recognized Peter's voice, and because of her joy, she did not open the gate but ran in and announced that Peter was standing at the outer gate. |
| 15You're crazy!" they told her. But she kept insisting that it was true. Then they said, "It's his angel!" | 15"You're out of your mind!" they told her. But she kept insisting that it was true, and they said, "It's his angel." |
| 16Peter, however, kept on knocking, and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astounded. | 16Peter, however, kept on knocking, and when they opened the door and saw him, they were amazed. |
| 17Motioning to them with his hand to be silent, he explained to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. "Report these things to James and the brothers," he said. Then he departed and went to a different place. | 17Motioning to them with his hand to be silent, he described to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. "Tell these things to James and the brothers," he said, and he left and went to another place. |
| 18At daylight, there was a great commotion among the soldiers as to what could have become of Peter. | 18At daylight, there was a great commotion among the soldiers as to what had become of Peter. |
| 19After Herod had searched and did not find him, he interrogated the guards and ordered their execution. Then Herod went down from Judea to Caesarea and stayed there. | 19After Herod had searched and did not find him, he interrogated the guards and ordered their execution. Then Herod went down from Judea to Caesarea and stayed there. |
| 20He had been very angry with the Tyrians and Sidonians. Together they presented themselves before him. They won over Blastus, who was in charge of the king's bedroom, and through him they asked for peace, because their country was supplied with food from the king's country. | 20Herod had been very angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon. Together they presented themselves before him. After winning over Blastus, who was in charge of the king's bedroom, they asked for peace, because their country was supplied with food from the king's country. |
| 21So on an appointed day, dressed in royal robes and seated on the throne, Herod delivered a public address to them. | 21On an appointed day, dressed in royal robes and seated on the throne, Herod delivered a speech to them. |
| 22The assembled people began to shout, "It's the voice of a god and not of a man!" | 22The assembled people began to shout, "It's the voice of a god and not of a man!" |
| 23At once an angel of the Lord struck him because he did not give the glory to God, and he became infected with worms and died. | 23At once an angel of the Lord struck him because he did not give the glory to God, and he was eaten by worms and died. |
| 24Then God's message flourished and multiplied. | 24But the word of God flourished and multiplied. |
| 25After they had completed their relief mission, Barnabas and Saul returned to Jerusalem, taking along John who is called Mark. | 25After they had completed their relief mission, Barnabas and Saul returned to Jerusalem, taking along John who was called Mark. |
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